Pet Tracks
THE VIRTUAL PET
Our grandaughter, Angela, has to take care of six pets: Buttercup the pug, white poodle Lee, petite Maltese Crystal, Moo-Moo the cow and kittens Anabella and Isabella.

That's a lot of responsibility for a 7 year old. These animals all require feeding and care, which can be very time consuming and expensive. However, they are not quite real; they are Webkinz toys, which, according to Toni Struncis, manager of Island Variety, are "beyond hot" with the elementary school crowd on Nantucket and across the country.

Originally offered in 2005, Toni says that it took a while for the virtual pets to catch on. "Initially we didn't really explain the toy and I don't think the customer understood what it did; they were just buying the toys because they were cute stuffed animals. It's just been in the last year-and-a-half that the demand has been explosive."

And explosive it is. The manufacturer claims over one million users are registered on the Webkinz website. The demand is exceeding the supply, according to Toni. "We were getting a new pet almost every month, but right now they are hard to get. We have even had people calling us from Texas and New York to get Webkinz because their local stores were sold out." Right now Island Variety is hoping for a shipment soon. In order to get a Webkinz, your name has to be on their waiting list for a dog, cat, frog, bear, horse, wild animal or whatever comes in next.

Marketed like the Beanie Babies craze of a few years ago, manufacturer Ganz Gift Company has already retired some of the toys, like the Unicorn and Love Puppy, and issues new ones periodically, such as the recently released Spotted Frog, Black Lab and Kuala Bear. Originally retailing at $8.99 for the smaller version Lil'Kinz and $11.99 for the Webkinz, the rarity of some of the toys, like the Love Puppy, an adorable white puppy covered with hearts, is getting $100 bids at auction, and people are buying and holding onto them for future collectors' items.

Angela adopted her first Webkinz, Lee the white poodle, in February. The special code that comes with each toy allows access to Webkinz World, an interactive site where the pet lives. When first logged on, the user is given basic items such as a room, a welcome balloon, a food item, two pieces of furniture and 2000 Kinzcash, virtual

currency.

A thermometer-style visual shows

each pet's level of happiness, health and hunger which will decrease as time is spent with that Webkinz. To increase levels, the user can feed, play with, exercise, bathe ("Great job! Your Webkin is cleaner, happier and healthier!"), clothe its pet or put it to bed. If the levels become too low, then the pet becomes sick and has to go the clinic to see Dr. Quack, who may prescribe medicine.

Of course, many of the activities require spending money. Angela's pets eat a lot of broccoli, and they don't seem to object. "Broccoli only costs 5 Web Bucks," she explains. Much of the game play involves the making and spending of Kinzcash needed to maintain the pet in health and comfort. Playing quizzes and arcade-type minigames earns money and praise, "That game was tough, but you did well!" The user can also go to the Employment Office to get a job, selecting whatever level of skill is appropriate.

In the Clubhouse, kids can chat with each other or play interactive games, such as checkers. There are safeguards built in so that young users are protected. For instance, Angela can visit the Clubhouse and converse with another there, but she has to select the phrases from a predetermined list; no freelancing is allowed.

The popularity of Webkinz is due in part to the triple whammy combination of the natural attraction kids have for plush animal toys to love and nurture, the online games kids play before they can read and the interaction of the Internet. Proponents also point to the lessons learned by teaching responsibility, role-playing pet care, and experiencing the concepts of budgeting and earning money.

Angela has explained to me, "You're supposed to visit your Webkinz every day." She usually finds that the few minutes before leaving for school is enough time to check on everyone and she has had lots of help from adult family members who like to play the fun games for their own sake while helping to plump up her Kinzcash bank account.

According to our daughter and Angela's mother, Linda Muhler, some restraint is important. "There was an intense fascination to begin with, but after about three weeks, the interest pretty much leveled out." Linda suggests setting reasonable limits for the time spent in front of the computer screen and offering a balance of activities. "I try to have lots of other opportunities for active playtime and social interaction with Angela's friends. We work on other creative projects together or, we just set aside time to read a book. Plus, she has all the pets of our extended family to love and

care for in the real world." I

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Willie guinea pig and two budgies. Send email to jan@geronimos.com.